Conman will pay fraction of £5m to victims

A cricket-loving conman who along with his Morecambe accomplice conned more than £5,2m from elderly victims will repay just a fraction of it.

Malcolm Barber, 73, former treasurer of the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition tricked 127 victims, predominantly pensioners, out of their life savings through an elaborate savings scam.

He was jailed for four years in 2014.

Now a judge has ruled that despite amassing more than £5m through the con, Barber was found to only have assets of £711,000 available to be seized.

Barber must pay back the money within six months or face a return to prison.

His accomplice Terry Warrington, of Michaelson Avenue, Morecambe, who was jailed for four-and-a-half years in January 2014 after admitting fraudulent trading, theft and operating while unregulated, declared himself bankrupt,and was made to pay back just £1, despite benefiting from more than £5million. Any money that Barber comes into in future is liable to be confiscated until the £5m is paid.